The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

- Fr. Eduardo Maria Taussig, of the clergy of Buenos Aires, professor of philosophy at the Catholic University of Argentina and director of the service for the pastoral care of universities in Buenos Aires, as bishop of San Rafael (area 87,286, population 230,000, Catholics 195,000, priests 81, religious 52), Argentina. Bishop-elect Taussig was born in 1954 in Buenos Aires and was ordained a priest in 1982.NER/…/TAUSSIG:COLLAZUOL VIS 20040721 (100)

VATICAN CITY, JUL 21, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father sent a telegram of condolences, through Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, to Bishop Stepan Meniok, C.SS.R., the archiepiscopal exarch of Donets'k-Kharkiv, Ukraine, upon the news of yesterday's mining disaster in Krasnolimansk in East Ukraine which caused many casualties.

The Pope asks the exarch to convey his condolences to the authorities, family members and friends of those who died. "While he assures you of his fervent prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for consolation for the wounded and all those who are suffering as a result of this serious accident, he sends you a special apostolic blessing as a sign of his spiritual closeness."TGR/MINING ACCIDENT/UKRAINE VIS 20040721 (130)

VATICAN CITY, JUL 21, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father has sent a Message to Fr. Gregory Gay, superior general of the Congregation of the Missions, as the members gather in Rome from July 5 to 29 for their 40th General Assembly, whose theme this year is: "Our Vincentian Identity Today, Having Lived the New Constitution for 20 Years: Evaluation and Three Challenges for the Future." The Congregation was founded in 1625 by St. Vincent de Paul.

The Pope notes in the Message, dated July 18 and made public today, that, "responding generously to the needs of the Church in his day, Saint Vincent de Paul placed the evangelization of the poor and the formation of the clergy at the centre of his vision for your Congregation. As you have grown in number and spread throughout the world, your apostolate has naturally taken on many new forms, but these two aspects remain central."

John Paul II says that "four centuries after your foundation, the task of 'bringing good news to the poor' remains as urgent as ever. Not only do millions of people throughout the world lack the basic necessities of life, but the modern world is afflicted by many other forms of poverty. Your Congregation is called to explore new ways of conveying the liberating message of the Gospel to our suffering brothers and sisters."

He writes that "many generations of priests have reason to thank your Congregation for the formation they have received at your hands. The importance of this apostolate cannot be overstated. Consequently it is essential to assign exemplary priests to this work: priests of human and spiritual maturity, pastoral experience, professional competence, capable of working with others. Many Vincentians with these very qualities nobly dedicated themselves to priestly formation in the past."

In closing, the Pope highlights their "outstanding contributions," adding: "But you also have a great history still to be accomplished! As you seek to consider how best to live the Vincentian charism, my message to you is this: 'Duc in altum!' Put out into the deep! Do not be afraid to venture forth, to put out the nets for a catch. The Lord Himself will be your guide!"JPII-MESSAGE/VINCENTIANS:MISSION/GAY VIS 20040721 (370)

VATICAN CITY, JUL 21, 2004 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Message to Fr. Hugh Cleary, superior general, and to the participants in the General Chapter of the Congregation of the Holy Cross as they meet in Rome. He noted they will examine their identity "as consecrated Religious and consider how best to preserve and adapt your spiritual patrimony to the changing historical and cultural situations of today."

"In 1837," writes the Pope, "your founder, the Venerable Basil Anthony Mary Moreau, responded generously and wisely to the needs of the turbulent times in which he lived, dedicating himself and his spiritual sons to the task of renewing and strengthening French society through preaching the gospel, education, and assistance to those in need. Beginning from a place providentially called 'Holy Cross', the Congregation rapidly spread abroad, establishing missions and educational institutions across the globe."

Noting that the Chapter's theme, "Crossing borders of every sort," is taken from their Constitution, he says it "expresses the desire to capture anew that initial spirit of your founder. ... In a world obsessed with material possessions and personal gratification, your witness of evangelical poverty, chastity, and obedience will shine for others, showing them what it means to follow Christ completely and unreservedly. Consequently, I invite you to set out boldly 'into the deep'."

"The recent establishment of the Congregation's new provinces in Haiti and North East India," the Holy Father continues, "is a clear sign of the fruitfulness of your apostolate for the life of the Church, demonstrating that the Gospel has taken firm root there. As the Second Vatican Council so wisely te aches, 'Missionary activity extends the saving faith of the Church, it expands and perfects her catholic unity . . . and bears witness to her sanctity'. As you consolidate your presence in these and other territories, you contribute to the growth of the Church, you enkindle the flame of hope in the hearts of God's children, and you carry out the Lord's injunction to 'go out to the whole world and proclaim the good news'." JPII-MESSAGE/CHAPTER/HOLY CROSS: CLEARY VIS 20040721 (360)

VATICAN CITY, JUL 21, 2004 (VIS) - After a 12-day vacation in the mountains of Valle D'Aosta, today the Pope resumed his catechesis on the psalms during the general audience. Addressing 8,000 people who filled the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father spoke about one of the lines of Psalm 118, "Promise to keep God's commandments."

The psalm, he affirmed, says that "on the path of life, we often encounter moments of darkness, but the light of the Word of God dispels that darkness, often quite unexpectedly. … The perfect image of God's light is Christ Himself, Who proclaims: 'I am the light of the world'."

John Paul II indicated that the psalmist evokes "the suffering and dangers of life that the faithful must confront and who need to be illuminated and sustained. … The faithful person passes through the world amidst dangers, cares, persecutions; he knows that tribulation is always close at hand. The Christian knows that every day he must take up the cross on the way to Calvary."

"Nevertheless," he said, "the just man remains faithful. … Peace of conscience is the strength of the believer; his constancy in obeying the divine commandments is a source of serenity. He wants to be completely faithful to God's will. On this path, he will find peace in his soul and will be able to overcome the dark entanglement of trials, gaining true happiness."

While greeting Italian pilgrims, the Pope addressed in a special way the new general director of the Small Work of Divine Providence, Fr. Flavio Peloso, and the members of the General Chapter. "I hope," he said, "that your joy at the recent canonization of your founder, St. Luigi Orione - on May 16 - may be translated into a renewed commitment to fidelity to Christ, the Church and the poor."

After the audience, the Pope returned by car to his residence in Castelgandolfo.AG/PSALM 118/… VIS 20040721 (320)